Black University of Washington Campus Officers Allege ‘Unbearable’ Racial Discrimination
Several Black police officers say they faced racism from colleagues during their time at the University of Washington (UW), The New York Times reported on Tuesday.
Five Black officers in the campus police department filed an $8 million lawsuit against the university, alleging a culture rooted in racism, racial slurs and vile comments made toward Black people, calling it “unbearable.”
UW officers Russell Ellis, Karinn Young and Gabriel Golden described to the Times racial abuse they said they experienced, including Young being referred to as a “monkey” and having bananas placed in front of her locker and Ellis being offered a watermelon-flavored energy drink by a colleague who allegedly said, “I thought all you guys like watermelon and Popeyes chicken.”
